Thomas a



T. A. SOUTHWIGK.

(No Model.)

FLOOR CLAMP.

Patented Feb. 17, 1885.

Inventor.

fer 46707724 L'he '56 ea.

3 x Na UNITED [STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. SOUTHVVICK, OF BROOKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR- TO HIMSELF AND M. CLAIR ALEXANDER, OF SAME PLACE.

v.FLOOR-CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,526, dated February 1'7, 1885.

Application filed December 10, 1984. (N model.)

To all whom it puny concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. SOUTHWIOK, of Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Floor- Olamps, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled .in the art or science to which said invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure l is an isometrical perspective view representing my improved floor-clamp in use, and Fig. 2 a vertical longitudinal section of the same.

Like letters of referenceindi cate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawlngs.

My invention relates to that class of floorclamps which are employed by carpenters in laying the floors of buildings; and it consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the parts, as hereinafter more fullyset forth and claimed, by which a more desirable and effective device of this character is produced than is nowin ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improve.- ment will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters from the following explanation.

In the drawings, A represents the body, B the lever, and O the bar. Projecting upwardly from either side of the body there is a vertically-arranged flange, D, in which the lower end of the lever B is pivoted at w. The bar 0 is provided with an upwardly-projecting serrated flange, d, at either side, and is fitted to slide longitudinally of the body A in the ways m. The upper side of the bar 0 is provided between the flanges d with teeth, as shown at f, and pivoted to the lever B ati there is an actuating-pawl, E, adapted to engage said teeth.

Disposed above the pawl E, and pivoted to the flanges D, there is a retaining-pawl, H, adapted to engage the teeth on the upwardlyprojecting flanges d of the bar 0.

Centrally pivoted at o to the outer end of the bar 0, and adapted to swing laterally thereon, is a head-piece or bar, J, provided with a longitudinal groove, 2, for receiving the tongue h of the loose board K, said headpiece being cut out or curved inwardly at its center, as shown at t, to enable the nail l to L be driven through the tongue h in blind-nailing the board K.

Projecting downwardly from the outer end of the body A there is a series of sharp spurs, b, adapted to engage the under floor or a beam, M, and thereby anchor the clamp.

In the use of my improvement the clamp is anchored by driving the spurs 1) into theunder floor or beam M, and the head-piece J placed against the loose board K, the tongue h of said board being'inserted in the groove z of the head-piece. The lever B is thendepressed, causing the pawl E to engage one of the teeth f and force the head-piece J against the board K and said board against the nailed board L, the pawl H at the same time engaging the teeth on the flange d and retaining the head-piecein its advanced position. The lever B is then elevated and again depressed, thereby causing the pawl H to'engage another of the teeth f and force the bar 0 forward another step, the operation being repeated until the requisite pressure is exerted on the board K, after which it' maybe nailed, in a manner which will be readily obvious without a more explicit description. The pawl E actsat the longitudinal axial line or center of the bar 0, thereby exerting a direct pressure on the center of the board, while the retaining-pawl H, by engaging the teeth on the flanges (1 simultaneously at either side of said bar, prevents the bar from swinging laterally. The spurs b are inclined in a backward direction, as seen in Fig. 2, in order to adapt them to engage the floor M to better advantage, and also to prevent the rear end of the clamp from being raised when the lever B is depressed to force the bar 0 forward, as described. The flanges d also serve as guides to keep the point of the pawl E centered and cause it to engage the teeth f properly in case it becomes loose on its pivotal support i. The head-piece J is centrally pivoted at o, to enable it to adjust itself to the board properly in case thebody A is not set precisely at right angles thereto.

The scallop t is a very essential feature of my invention, as it enables the board K to be blind-nailed through the tongue h at a point Where said tongue is supported at either side 5 0f the nail in the groove 2, thus preventing the tongue from being accidentally split from the body of the board.

Having thus explained my invention,what I claim is 1c The improved floor-clamp herein described, the same consisting of the body A, provided with the spurs 6, ways m, and flanges D, the

lever B, pivoted at x i0 said flanges, and provided with the pivoted pawl E, the bar 0, provided with the upwardly-extending serrated I 5 flanges d at its edges, and the teeth f in its upper face, and the pivoted headpiece J, provided with the groove 2 and the scallop i, substantially as described.

THOMAS A. SOUTHVICK.

Witnesses:

O. A. SHAW, L. J. WHITE. 

